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H. GOYLE.

` FIRE ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

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(No Model.)

Patentedec. 5, 1893.

.UNTTED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HUGH COYLE, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF- COLUMBIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,3; 3, dated December 5,1893.l

Application led Uetober 7 1893.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HUGH COYLE,a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Washington city, 1n the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escapes and Lowering Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and

vexact description of the invention, such vas will enable others skilled in the art to which 1t appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specificaion.

Myinvention relates to fire-escapes, or other apparatus designed for safely lowering articles from one level to another, and it consists 1n the devices hereinafter described and claimed whereby the downward motion of the person, or article, that is being lowered may be retarded at will, as well as in the construction of a rope or cable which constitutes the support for the said person or article.

Referring to the drawings Figure lis a view showlng the use of the improved rope in connection with a frictional device. Fig. 2 rep` resents the improved frictional device. Figs.

. 3 and 4 are views of the rope or cable.

A represents a cable, rope, or some similar flexible device, which as shown, may be secured to any suitable object, as a bedstead, or to any fixed support and which passes through a frictional device B that is adapted to slide upon 1t and to be grasped by the hands, or to which may be attached a stirrup C or any other means for holding a body or object so that the body or object as it is being lowered maybe suitably supported. The improved frictlonal device consists of a tube coiled between its ends so as to form two lateral loops each of which may be grasped by a person. Such a tube can be used in lowering two persons at once, and has, therefore, greater utility than a tube which is bent into a single coil; and moreover is better suited for the use of one person since that person can convenlently hold 011 to it with both hands. The ends of the tube are straight and in alignment and are slightly flared so as to present a curved instead of an angular surface to the rope or cable. Abrasion of the ropeis avoided Serial No. 487.498. (No model.)

by this flaring feature. The tube is slightly larger than the rope sothat the latter may be easily passed through it.

The rope or cable is made ot' strands of strong steel, or other wire-thread a, covered with asbestus b, and between them is placed a filling c of plumbago, -soap-stone, or any other lubricating material that will retain its position between the. strands. The strands and the filling are then covered with a woven envelope d of any material that is found to be available. Small portions of the lubricant pass through the meshes of the woven envelope when the latter is formed around the rope, and also Whenever the rope is handled, bent, or subjected to the pressure of the frictional device. The outside is, therefore, always lubricated and does not require the application of a lubricant, as do the surfaces of ropes as at present constructed. The lubricant and the asbestus coverings of the wires lmake the rope fire-proof sothat it will not be consumed when subjected to the action of tire. The rope thus not only embodies the element of strength, but is non-combustible and possesses the quality of self-lubrication. Itis also light and flexible and can be easily coiled for packing, or tied to an object like an ordinary rope. Fifty feet of this rope that will sustain a weight of three hundred and twenty pounds lweigh less than two pounds, and can be coiled so closely that it can be placed in an ordinary pocketi When the apparatus is being used a person may descend by grasping the frictional device, or he may partly support himself by placing his foot in a stirrup C or equivalent device, which may be attached to the said frictional device. After one person has descended another may pull up the rope and attach what was its lower end to some object, letting the upper end fall to the ground, thus bringing the frictional device within his reach so that he also may descend. The stirrup or other supporting element will at such time automatically swing round into position for use. This operation may be repeated until all persons have descended. The speed of descent can be reduced by throwing the part of the rope just below the frictional device to one side, as shown in- Fig. 1, or by IOO turning thedevice itself so that the rope will bind against the curved surface at the ends of the tube.

I do not limit the use ot' my invention to fire-escapes, for the apparatus may be employed to lower any heavy body whatever. By merely throwing the rope out ot' plumb by pulling the lower end to one side of a vertical line passing through the support for the same, the frictional device will bind upon the rope and hold theheaviest articles in suspenslon.

The rope may be constructed of wires which are not covered with asbestus, but which have between them a lubricant of the character described, and are covered with a suitable envelope. With this construction, it' the lubricant be lire-prooi", the rope will be non-combustible.

Having now fully described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an article of manufacture a frictional device for fire-escapes, or similar apparatus, which consists of a tube bent so as to form two complete separated and oppositely disposed loops, tlie ends ot the tube being in alignment and flared and having their axes at right angles to the loops, substantially as described.

2. A rope or cable` for fire-escapes, or similar purposes, formed of wires covered with asbestus, or other suitable refractory or noncombustible material, and having a lubricant,

such as plurnbago, or soap-stone, between them, and surrounded by a Woven envelope or casing, substantially as described.

3. A rope or cable for fire-escapes, or similar purposes, formed of Wires which are surrounded by a Woven or other suitable envelope or casing, the wires having* between them a suitable lubricant such as p'luinbago or soapstone, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses;

HUGH ooYLil.

Vitn esses:

Gmo. H. APPERsoN, GHAs. A. BoYNToN. 

